Finishing stereotype plates



Dec. 7; 1943. N, o, TEMTE- 2,336,046-

FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed June 1, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 29 mrm,

"*TTORNEYS I Dec. 7, 1943.

N. O. TEMTE FINISHING 'STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed June 1, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 7 ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1943. o, TEMTE 23,36,046

FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed June 1, 1 940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR BY a W AT RNEYS Dec. 7, 1943. N o. TEMTE 2,336,046

FINISHING STEREO'I'YPE PLATES Filed June 1, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AT ORNEYS Patented Dec. 7, 1943 2,336,046 FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES Nils .Olsen Temte, .Chicago, Ill., assignor to'The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 1, 1940, Serial No.1338,334

'11 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful'improvements in stereotype printing plate "finishing mechanisms, and more particularly to such improvements in machines for finishing and matching companion stereotype plates for :double-page printing, that is side-by-side plates car'- rying a unitary design.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or maybe learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and:described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to'herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the. invention, and together with the description, serve to explain thezprincip'les of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of- -a machineembodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of'said machine viewed from the right of-Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, central verticalrse'ction of the upper part of said machine;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse'sectionwon line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, 'showinglthe plate clamping means in'locked position;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6--6 of Fig.3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detaihs'howing the matching edge of two stereotype plates locked together in printing position on the plateicylinder of a printing press;

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagramofthe motor and safety-guard interlock; 5 1

Fig.9 is an end elevationoflaclutch-operated modification of the machine;

Fig. 10 is an enlargediragmentarysectionon line llll0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section online III-.41 .'of;Fig..10; and

Fig. 12 is a sectionon linen-42: of'Fig. 11.

It is sometimes requiredzomrotary :presseszto print a unitary design which:is::two:rpages,:that is, two plates in width, and in such :caseswit is necessary to clamp thev arcuateabutting-edges of both plates to the.cylinderiwhileiat-the;same time the printing surfacesofthetwo plates must overlie these clampingedgesand-must abutson each otherand be exac'tly matched andialined so that the printing impression or unitaryzdesign made from the two plates will appear as though printedfrom a single plate. .It is :therefore necessarythat the "two arcuate abutting plate :ends 'befinis'hed exactly alike, both rascto their printing .surfaces and their clamp-engaging surfaces,.so as to perfectly match and .aline the two .parts of the unitary design. Objects of the invention are to produce a plate-finishing machine, thatis, a machine forfinishing the two abuttingarcuaterplate edges to effect the results and requirements described; to provide rmeans whereby the :trimming and finishing of-the second :plate can be preliminarily determined v or set from-:the corresponding edge of the first, finished plate; to provide for finishing and matchingzin .the manner described the'tail ends of the two plates; to provide-forgremoving the excess metal from the arcuate end of a-platein order that theplate' can :be effectively positioned in juxtaposition with a companionplate to effect the'required alining andmatching; and to effect the finishing of the plate,the alining andthe matching in aminirnum-of time and in a manner .con- Venient to the stereotyper.

To'this en'd amachine is provided havinga semi-cylindrical saddle for-supporting a stereotype plate, theisaddle being provided with supports forthe straight edges'of the plate ;to positively position the. plate angularly and means engaging'thearcuate east end of theplate-for positioning it axially ,on:;the saddle. .Two :sets of angularlyemovable trimming knives are -mounted near;one end ofthe'gsaddle,the'tworsets being a diameter.apart-onesetoi knives effecting certainof the finishing cuts, the other set of knives e'fiecting'thexremaining cuts tofinishvthe plate end for cooperating with the clamping means an'dfor :matching with the companion plate. Manually operated-means, including a difierential screwfeed, are provided for effecting exact .and"'minute :axial feed of the saddleand of the plate thereontrelatively to theitrimming knives. On'the:.opposite side of'the trimming knives is an .auxiliarystationary saddle provided with supports 'for the straight edges of a companion platexpreviously finished, =wherebythe two platesare exactly alined 'angularly, but this companionsplateisfree for axial movement upon its saddle'r-to*andirom-pthe plate on-the firstmentioned saddle ,ifor'the purpose of matching the design at the two arcuate edges, the trimming knifecarrier being positionableto permit this: movement .ofzthe plate.

The invention also 1 provides in its preferred form a motorized drive for th trimming knives, and associated therewith a safety guard which is interlocked with the electrical circuits controlling the motor, whereby the guard must be in closed position during normal driving operation of the knives. Said motorized form of the invention is also provided with means for momentary or inching operation of the cutting mechanism and same is also interlocked with the operation of the safety guard.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description, and the following detail description as well, are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to '7 is the preferred form embodying the electrical motor drive and safety guard interlock. As embodied a main frame III is designed to support a stationary cylindrical saddle I3, said saddle being adapted to hold a finished stereotype plate for matching with the other stereotype plate being trimmed on the machine. The saddle I3 is essentially a hollow cylinder rigidly supported at its lower periphery by spaced-apart arcuate stirrups II and I2 formed in the frame ID. The opposite or left hand portion of the frame I is designed to support a similar saddle II, which, however, is adapted for axial movement to position the stereotype plate carried thereby with respect to the trimming tools. As shown, the cylindrical saddle I1 is supported from a central axially movable shaft IS, the ends of which are slidably mounted with respect to the main frame I0. pose an upwardly-disposed arm I5 is provided at its upper end with a hub I5 which is bored for sliding support of the end of the shaft I6. The opposite end of said shaft is slidably supported in a similar hub I l formed at the upper end of an upwardly inclined supporting arm I4. The cylindrical saddle I1 is rigidly connected to and supported by the shaft I6 by means of spaced apart hubs I8, I8 fixed to the shaft and having radially-extending spokes I9 formed integrally with the shell of the saddle I'I.

To permit axial movement, the saddle I1 is substantially U-shaped in crosssection as will appear from Figs. 4 and 5. That is, the lower arouate portion of the shell I! is cut away along elements of the cylinder to provide clearance'for axial movement with respect to the arms I4 and I5. The edges 2| of the saddle shell II are adapted to have sliding engagement with the sides of the upright I5, being provided'with pads 22 which slide upon cooperating pads 23 on the members I5. In order to eliminate rocking of the saddle about the shaft I6 shims 24may be employed between the pads or sliding surface 22 and 23. A cross-strut 25 bridging across the gap formed by the cut-away portion between the edges 2| is provided to prevent spreading of the saddle I'I. Arcuate ribs 25 and 21 are also provided to give further internal rigidity to the shell.

Means are provided for clamping a stereotype plate 28 to the saddle I! for the cutting operations and to seat same in a predetermined angular position. As will appear in Figs. 4 and 5 the plate 28 overlies substantially one-half the peripheral surface of the cylinder I1. The plate is ordinarily finished with a bevelled end 28 formed by a suitable tail cutter preliminarily to being placed on the saddle. Stop means for cooperating with said bevelled end 28 for resisting For this puraxial movement of the stereotype plate away from the cutter comprises an adjustable stop member 29 which embraces the upper part of the saddle I1 and is attached thereto by three cap screws 3| passing through slots 32 in the stop member 29 and threaded in the saddle.

Means for clamping the stereotype plate 28 to the saddle comprises longitudinal cleats 35 at either side of the saddle and diametrically disposed. The circumferential distance between said cleats is greater than that covered by a stereotype plate. In practice the operator lays the stereotype plate on the carrier II, the edges of the plate ordinarily not resting against either cleat 35 as shown in Fig. 4 for example. However, the stops 35 assist in initially so positioning the plate on the saddle. The clamping or locking means comprises a leather band 36 attached to a metal band 31, said bands being designed to be wrapped and drawn tightly about the stereotype plate to the cylinder. For this purpose the right hand end of the bands is resiliently anchored to a bracket 39 on the saddle by a spring anchor connection 39 while a pivoted locking handle M is attached to the opposite end of the band. Said handle is pivotally connected to locking brackets 44 on either side of the handle by means of pintle 42. Upon counter-clockwise rotation of the handle the pintles engage with lock niches 43 in the brackets 44 to hold the handle and strips in their closed or locking position. When the handle 4| is operated to clamp the plate to the saddle the ensuing rotation of strap 36, against the pull of the anchor spring 3%, would cause the plate 28 to slide around the saddle from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5. In the latter position the left hand edge of the plate is then in a state of abutment against the left hand stop 35.

For removing the stereotype plate 28 from the saddle II, a recess 45 is provided at the top of the saddle whereby a workman may place his hand under the plate and lift same from the machine when the locking band has been released.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for cutting the desired edge surfaces on the end of the plate 28. The surfaces to be cut (Fig. 7) comprise the vertical edge A, the under-cut horizontal face B, the bevelled edge C and the vertical edge D. Cutting tools IIZIJ are provided for cutting the surfaces A and D while other tools IUI are designed to cut the bevelled surface C and the horizontal face B. Said tools are mounted in arotary carrier I05 which is keyed to turn with the motor driven shaft 52. The carrier comprises a pair of diametrallyopposed arms forming a single casting integral with a hub I06 keyed to the shaft 52. The cutting tool IE0 is mounted in one arm of the carrier I05 while the tool IIII is'mounted in the other arm degrees apart.

One end of shaft 52 is journaled in the supporting hub I5 which also receives the shaft I6, while the opposite end of shaft 52 is journaled in a hub III! which forms the center of a spider or disc bridging the outer end of the saddle I3. At the inner end of saddle I3 there is formed a plurality of integral ribsIIl8 which terminate in a hub I09 in which the shaft 52 is intermediately journaled. I

Rotation may be imparted to thetool carrier I05 for cutting the stereotype plate both by hand and by motor, it being rotated by hand for imparting the finishing touches in final matching operations, and also to position it for movement 'ber 50.

eem

of the matching plate 55. For this purpose the carrier H is provided at either extremity with handles llfl. Motorized rotation is imparted by a motor driven belt I l I from a built-in motor 76 at the bottom of the machine, the lower end of the belt engaging the motor shaft sprocket H3 while the upper end passes over and drivingly engages a driving pulley l M, the hub of which is keyed to the shaft '52 and has thrust bearing against the hub I69. Thrust from the rotating tool I05 is taken up against a non-ferrous bearing ring 53 mounted on the inner end of the saddle'l3 'anda non-ferrous bushing 55 on the arm l5, so that substantially no endwise thrust is imparted to the shaft 52.

It will be understood that the carrier or saddle H is axially movable 'for the purpose of bringing theedge of the plate 28 into contact with the rotating cutting tools. The embodied means for imparting such to and fro movement to the carrier or saddle I1 comprises a head bolted to the arm [4, and provided with a centrallyextending flange 4'! which is held between a shoulder on an elongated nut 48 and a hub 48 of a hand wheel 5!. The shaft I6 is connected to thenut 48 by a reversely threaded central mem- Rotation of the hand wheel 5! will thereby be translated into axial motion of the saddle H. e

In operating the above described mechanism, an unfinished plate is fastened to the movable saddle IT, as above described,-and is subjected to the cutting actions of the tools on the carrier I 85. The finished plate is then removed from saddle H and placed on the stationary saddle I3,

along which it is slidable. It'will be noted that the stationary saddle i3 is provided with a pair of axial cleats 35 which are in accurate alinement with the cleats 35 on the saddle ll, so that the finished plate 55 will have its axial edges resting upon and supported by the cleats 35 so that it will be in accurate angular alinement at all times with the plate 28. A second unfinished plate 28 is then fastened to the movable saddle H and the cutting operations applied to it. Between cutting operations the operator may slide the finished plate '55 toward and into abutment with the working plate 28 to see how the matching is progressing or whether his work has reached a state satisfactory for printing. It will be noted (Fig. 6) that the arms of the tool carrier can be swung into a horizontal position so that the finished plate 55 can be slid over the tools when such a test is desired.

In accordance with one feature of the invention there is provided a safety guard to protect the operator from the rotating tool carrier M35. The lower part 6! of said guard is rigidly fastened to the frame in, while the upper part of lid 62 is hinged to the lower partat 63 on the rear side of the machine. When the lid 62 is in the closed position it rests at the front of the machine bebetween a pair of cleats 64 extending upwardly from the part 6!. Said cleats act as guides so that "a cam 65 rigidly attached to the lid will effectively engage a limit switch 6%.

Means are also provided for holding the lid closed, comprising a lever '67 pivoted at 58. The lever includes a jaw 69 adapted to hook beneath a pin H supportedby lugs 72 extending from the lid 62. It will be noted that there is a lug l3 downwardly extending from the lid nearly to the surface of the saddle i3. The purpose of this is to prevent closing of-the switch 66 by closing of the lid if the plate 55 has been inadvertently left operated from a-three-wire circuit. In Fig. 8 it is assumed that the lid 62 is raised or thrown backward to its extreme position denoted by broken lines (Fig. 2). Closing of the lid'causes closing of the switch ts. To start the motor 16 the operator depresses a switch ll (normally open by spring pressure) thus allowing current to flow from wire it to '39 by way of a solenoid 8 I; thereupon consequent energization of said solenoid causes closing of switchesflZ-M, '84 and 85, thereby starting the motor. Once the multiple switches 82-85 have been closed the motor will continue operation until pressure on switch 86 (normally closed by spring pressure) opens said switch, whereupon the multiple switch is opened bygravity or spring pressure in known manner. Provision is made for inching and this includes a walking beam switch 89 which is not unlikean ordinary two-button wall switch for domestic lighting. It will be apparent that depressing the start switch 11 causes the motor to operate regardless of whether the switch 89 is open or closed. If the switch 89 is closed the motor will, of course, continue to run after pressure on the button T! has been removed. If, however, the switch 89 is open at the time switch 71 is depressed the motor will stop the moment pressure is removed from switch ll since the latter is normally open. Therefore, it is by means of the button ll that inching is accomplished.

Resistances 9i and 92 included-in the circuit ordinarily do not provide enough heat toaifect bimetal members 93 and 94, mechanically'coupled respectively to switches 95 and "96, to open said switches. When, however, the load is above of the intended load for the motor, heat generated by the resistances will cause the motor to stop due to opening of switches 95 and 96 since the heat produced by excessive load will warp the bimetals. The suddenness or slowness of stopping of the motor will be dependent, of course, on the amount of overload. Examples of the causes of such overload would be when the wor'kis fed too fast to the too-ls, or when some foreign body prevents rotation of the tool carrier, or'when a stereotype plate extends improperly into the orbit of the too-ls to thereby prevent rotation of the tool carrier. The multiple switch, together with the overload thermostatic cutout device, are collectively known as a magnetic line starter and any suitable form thereof may be employed with the matching machine 'of the present invention.

In Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, is shown an alternativeconstruction wherein the motor 76 is continuously operated and the tool carrier is coupled to the motor by means of a suitable friction clutch 29!. A clutch shifting lever 202 extends through a slot 283 in the saddle and is retained in disengaged position by a latch ZM'urged to rotate clockwise about a stud 205 by a spring 205.

When the operator desires to couple the motor to the tool carrier he depresses the latch, using a handle 201 to thereby move the latch out of the path of movement of thelever 202 from the "position shown to the broken line position.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a saddle, means for supporting a plate thereon in trimming position, an angularly traveling cutter for trimming an arcuate end of said plate, an auxiliary plate supporting saddle adjacent said first saddle, and means for movably supporting a plate on said auxiliary saddle in axial and angular alinement with the plate in trimming position on said first-mentioned saddle whereby said second plate is movable into-abutment with the end of the plate on said first mentioned saddle.

2'. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a saddle, means for supporting a plate thereon in trimming position, an angularly traveling cutter at one end of said saddle for trimming an arcuate end of said plate, an auxiliary plate supporting saddle on the opposite side of said cutter, and means for supporting a plate on said auxiliary saddle in axially slidable relation to the auxiliary saddle for movement past the cutter and into matching abutment with the end of the plate on said first mentioned saddle.

3. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a saddle, means for supporting a plate thereon in trimming position, an angularly traveling cutter at one end of said saddle for trimming an arcuate end of said plate, means for moving said saddle toward and from said cutter, an auxiliary plate supporting saddle on the opposite side of said cutter, and means for supporting a plate on said auxiliary saddle in axially slidable relation to the auxiliary saddle for movement past the cutter and into matching abutment with the end of the plate on said first mentioned saddle.

4. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a saddle, means for supporting a plate thereon in trimming position, a cutter for trimming an arcuate end of said plate, means for supporting a trimmed plate adj acent the saddle in angular and axial alinement with said first plate, means for moving said plates relative to each other, one of said plates being slidably supported so that the trimmed ends of the plates may be brought into matching abutment.

5. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a plate supporting saddle, means for clamping a stereotype plate on said saddle, an angularly traveling cutter at one end of said saddle for trimming an arcuate end of said plate, an auxiliary plate supporting saddle on the opposite side of said cutter, means for supporting a plate on said auxiliary saddle in axially slidable relation to the auxiliary saddle for axial movement only past the cutter and into abutment with the end of a plate on said first mentioned saddle.

6. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a plate supporting saddle, an angularly travelling cutter at one end of said saddle for trimming an arcuate end of a plate on said saddle, an auxiliary saddle on the opposite side of said cutter, means on both saddles for angularly alining the plates supported thereon and including means for supporting a plate on said auxiliary saddle in axially slidable relation to the auxiliary saddle while maintaining said angular alinements for movement past the cutter and into abutment with the end of a plate on said first mentioned saddle.

'7. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a plate supporting saddle, an angularly traveling cutter at one end of said saddle for trimming an arcuate end of a plate on said saddle, a stationary auxiliary saddle on the opposite side of said cutter, means on both saddles for angularly alining the plates supported thereon andincluding means for supporting a plate on said auxiliary saddle in axially slidable relation to the auxiliary saddle while maintaining said angular alinements for movement past the cutter and into abutment with the end of a plate on said first mentioned saddle.

8. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a plate supporting saddle, an angularly traveling cutter at one end of said saddle for trimming an arcuate end of said plate, an auxiliary plate supporting saddle on the opposite side of said cutter, a plate supported on said auxiliary saddle being axially slidable relatively to the auxiliary saddle past the cutter and into abutment with the end of a plate on said first mentioned saddle, a guard movable to protect the cutter and means for preventing sliding of the plate on the auxiliary saddle when the guard is in cutter protecting position.

9. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a plate supporting saddle, an angularly traveling cutter at one end of said saddle for trimming an arcuate end of said plate, an auxiliary plate supporting saddle on the opposite side of said cutter, a plate supported on said auxiliary saddle being axially slidable relatively to the auxiliary saddle past the cutter and into abutment with the end of a plate on said first mentioned saddle, a guard positionable to protect the cutter and means for preventing closing of the guard when a plate on the auxiliary saddle extends past the cutter.

10. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a saddle, means for supporting a plate thereon in trimming position, an angularly traveling cutter at one end of said saddle for trimming an arcuate end of said plate, an auxiliary saddle on the opposite side oi said cutter, means for supporting a plate on said auxiliary saddle in axially slidable relation to the auxiliary saddle for movement past the cutter and into matching abutment with the end of the plate on said first mentioned saddle, and motor means for driving said cutter.

11. A machine for finishing stereotype plates including in combination a saddle, means for supporting a plate thereon in trimming position, an angularly traveling cutter at one end of said saddle for trimming an arcuate end of said plate, an auxiliary saddle on the opposite side of said cutter, means for supporting a plate on said auxiliary saddle in axially slidable relation to the auxiliary saddle for movement past the cutter and into matching abutment with the end of the plate on said first mentioned saddle, motor means for driving said cutter and operator controlled means for selectively inching the cutter or driving same at full speed.

NILS OLSEN TEMTE. 

